Mourinho to personally convince Fabregas to join Real Madrid

LONDON - Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is to make a direct appeal to Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas to join him at the Spanish club next summer.

But the former Chelsea boss has his work cut out because the Arsenal skipper was a youth player with Real’s archrivals Barcelona.

According to sources, European champs Barcelona are favourites to sign him should he decide to leave England.

Five months ago Fabregas nearly returned to Barcelona before a plea by Arsene Wenger changed his mind, The Sun reports.

Real will bid 35 million pounds, or they could offer defender Ezequiel Garay, midfielders Lassana and Mahamadou Diarra or Gago in part-exchange.

A club insider said: “Mourinho has decided to convince Cesc personally he can be the next leader of the team.”

Barcelona will also renew their efforts to get Fabregas, and club president Sandro Rosell has told friends: “This matter is so important I am personally prepared to negotiate with Arsenal.” (ANI)